Genetic variation and correlations among the physiological growth attributing characters in ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula Roxb.) with reference to yield.

Evaluated eighteen genotypes of ridge gourd for physiological, yield, quality and fruit characters under the field condition revealed that PCV was higher than the GCV for most of traits. High heritability with moderate to high GCV and genetic gain was recorded for leaf area, leaf area index, specific leaf weight at 45 days after sowing (DAS), absolute growth rate, crop growth rate, relative growth rate of leaf, tendril and vine at 45-90 DAS, number of fruits per vine and yield per vine indicated that these characters could be improved by simple selection. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that leaf area during 45 and 90 DAS (0.5350 and 0.4689 respectively), leaf area index during 45 DAS (0.5714), AGR of leaf at the period of 45 to 90 DAS (0.7765), CGR of leaf at the period of 45 to 90 DAS (0.6095) had positive significant correlation with the total fruit yield per vine but NAR of vine at the period of 45 to 90 DAS (-0.4796) had negative significant correlation.